Herpesviruses and Cancer in South Africans
Author Information
Author(s): Berrington de González A, Urban MI, Sitas F, Blackburn N, Hale M, Patel M, Ruff P, Sur R, Newton R, Beral V
Primary Institution: Cancer Research UK Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford
Hypothesis
What is the relationship between antibodies to six human herpesviruses and seven cancer types in black South Africans?
Conclusion
The study found no strong association between antibody levels against human herpesviruses and the seven cancer groups in the population studied.
Supporting Evidence
- The study included 667 patients with seven specific cancers and 196 control subjects.
- Significant variation in antibody levels was found among different cancer types.
- Two significant associations were found: increased risk of oral cancer and decreased risk of myeloid leukaemia with HHV-6 antibodies.
Takeaway
The study looked at whether certain viruses are linked to cancer in South Africans, but it didn't find strong evidence that they are.
Methodology
A case-control study was conducted with blood samples tested for antibodies against six herpesviruses in patients with various cancers.
Potential Biases
The retrospective design may mean that cancer affected antibody levels rather than the other way around.
Limitations
The study may not have had enough power to detect weak associations or associations with specific cancer sub-types.
Participant Demographics
Adult black South Africans with newly diagnosed cancers.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02 for oral cancer and 0.03 for myeloid leukaemia associations with HHV-6.
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.1 – 4.3 for oral cancer; 95% CI 0.3 – 1.0 for myeloid leukaemia.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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